Ghani again rules out coalition govt

 
SHARAN (Pajhwok): Leading presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on Thursday once again ruled out a coalition government with his rival Abdullah Adullah, saying he would not strike any deal over people’s votes.
“Reaching agreement with Abdullah is based on principles, which does not mean a partnership or a coalition government,” Ghani told a gathering in Orgun district, the scene of a deadly suicide attack earlier in the week.
Also on Thursday, Abdullah said that the new government would include members from both teams under the deal with Ahmadzai. At a news conference in Kabul, he said the agreement on auditing all votes cast in the June 14 runoff was brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry and UNAMA head Jan Kubis.
The ex-foreign minister, without going into details, said representatives of both camps would be part of the future government. He added the agreement would be implemented once the outcome of the audit process was announced.
A suicide bomber blew up a car packed with explosives near a busy market and a mosque in Orgun district on Tuesday, killing 36 people and injuring 89 others -- one of the deadliest insurgent attack on civilians since 2001.
The blast destroyed numerous mud-brick shops, flipped cars over and stripped trees of their branches as Ghani and Abdullah struggle for power after a disputed presidential runoff.
Accompanied by Paktika Governor Mohibullah Samim and other government officials, Ghani visited the blast site. He called the attack on civilians painful and brutal and prayed for the early recovery of those injured.
Orgun residents seemed happy with Ghani’s visit and urged him to give more importance to security than other issues upon reaching the presidency.
A tribal elder, Suliman, told Pajhwok Afghan News that they were happy to see Ashraf Ghani visiting the district in this difficult time.
He said the Afghans were tired of the war and Ghani should make efforts at bringing peace and stability to the country if declared winner in the June 14 election.
ma/mud

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